Cutter or sickle bar



Oct. 18, 1938. D, H BENNETT l 2,133,277

GUTTER 0R SICKLE BAR Filed NOV. 9, 1936 ATTORNEYS 1 irl-7J' PatentedOct. 18, 1938 UNITED vSTATES Pirilv'l OFFICE CUTTER 0R SICKLE- BARApplication November 9, 1936, Serial No. 109,940

14 claims; (ci. srs-29s) with the support. The studs have heads 5 spacedThe main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved cutter or sickle bar adapted foremploymentwith a reciprocating mechanism of the type commonly used inharvesting machines, mowing machines, and the like.

Second, to provide a sickle or cutter bar of the type described in whichthe individual cutter blades may be quickly and easily removed andreplaced and which are at the same time very securely held in assembledrelation to the bar proper.

Third, to provide a device of the type described having cutter bladeswhich are readily attached and detached With a common means forsecuringall the blades in operative relation when the machine is in use.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdelined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of my improved cutter bar, theretaining bar being shown in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in longitudinal section online 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one of the steps inremoving or placing a blade.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cutter blades.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view further illustratingthe cutter bar structure and blades and method of attaching the blades.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the retaining bar which iscommon to all of the blades.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse section illustrating the cutter bar inoperative relation to the carrying bar or support.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I ,indicates the cutter bar properon which is mounted a plurality of individual cutter blades 2 havingA-shaped or angularly disposed forwardly converging cutting edges 3. Theblades are mounted upon the bar I to facilitate their ready placementand removal, and to accomplishthis l.' provide a plurality of headedstuds or rivets 4 which are secured in the bar at spaced intervals andin pairs to coact with each blade. The studs are countersunk inthe-lower side of the bar so as to provide a smooth surface for slidablecoaction Yof the cutter blades.

from the upper side of the bar to provide exposed Shanks 6 with whichthe cutter blades may be en'- gaged.

The cutter blades are formed with a plurality of keyhole-shaped openingsadapted to receive the studs, each opening comprisinga hole .I ofsufcientdiameter to pass over the head' 5 of a stud and anarrowerlslot'portion 8 communicating with Vthe hole I and .ofa size tosnugly engage and slidably receive the shanks 6 of the studs.- vThesekeyhole openings .are disposed with `their narrower portions towardV therear To attach .thej blade, it -is only necessary to pass the headsthrough the enlargements of the slots and push the blades forwardly. Thedetachment is a reverse operation. At .9, I indicate-a blade thathasbeenbroken or damaged.Y lWhere blades are-attached by riveting, vas isthegeneralr practice, considerable time is required in the replacement of ablade and in many uses, particularly in mowing. machines, blades arefrequently broken by stones or vsticks Aor other objects coming betweenthe bladeand its guard or coacting shear plate.

a set of blades provided for use while the entire set of blades arebeing sharpened.

- The blades are all held in proper position onlthe cutter bar by meansof the retaining bar I0 disposed at the rear of the cutter bar andhaving transverse slots I I receiving the bolts I4 by which it isadjustably clamped to the main beam or carrier bar I5. The retaining barI0 isprovided with a rabbeted edge I2 in which the rear edges I3 of thecutter blades travel and abut as clear- -ly'shown in Fig. 7. The usualguards I'B are prol-.vided and also the hold-on clips I'I. Shear platesVa part of the stress incident to the reciprocaticn of the bar.

The coupling head plate 20 is recessed at 23, abutments 24 being leftbetween the recesses to contact with the `cutter bar, the recessesproviding openings betweenthe plate and bar vfor reception of theblades200 which are Y ..25 The cutters may be sharpened individually, or

ISIS

inserted and removed from the rear of the bar. These blades have slotsor recesses 25 in their side edges adapted to receive the shanks of therivets 22 to position and support the blades, the ends of the slots orrecesses forming shoulders engaging the rivets. The bar I serves toretain these blades 200.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have devised asickle or cutter bar 'of the type described, which provides a veryconvenient means for moutning the blades permitting their ready removaland replacement. The blades are all securely retained in operativerelation. The structure is simple and economical in its parts and theblades can be removed and replaced in the field without tools othert'hanawrench.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptationsas'it is believed thisdisclosure willenable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt'myimprovements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire vtosecure V,by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reciprocating' cutter, the combination of a cutter bar having aplurality of headed studsarranged thereon in spaced pairs with the headsof the studs spaced from the bar, a plurality of cutter blades havingforwardly Yconverging cutting edges and provided with keyhole slots:disposed with their reduced-portions rearwardly and receiving pairs ofsaid studs, Asaid studs supporting said cutter bladesin edge-toedgerelation on the cutter bar with their rear edges projecting rearwardlyof the cutterbar, a

retaining bar having a rabbeted edge receiving the rear edges of saidblades and acting Ato restrain displacement thereof, said retaining barhaving provision for-.adjustment transversely of .said cutter bar.

2. In a reciprocating cutter, the `combination of a cutter bar having alplurality of Vheaded studs arranged thereon in spaced pairs `withthe'heads of the studs spaced from the bar, a plurality of cutterbladeshaving forwardly converging cutting edges -and provided withlholesslidably `engaging said studs, said studs supporting Vsaid cuttervblades in edge-to-edgefirelation on the cutter bar with their rear`edges projecting rearwardly of the cutter bar, a retaining bar having arabbeted edge receivingithe rear edges of said kblades and acting torestrain displacement thereof, said retaining bar'having'provision foradjustment transversely of fsaid cutter Sbar.

3. In a reciprocating cutter, the combination of a cutter bar having aplurality of headedstuds 'arranged thereon in spaced pairs with theheadsof the studs spaced from the bar, and a plurality of cutter bladeshaving forwardly convergingcutting edges and provided with elongated'rectilinear keyhole slots disposed with their reduced portionsrearwardly and receiving'pairs of said studs, said studs supporting saidcutter' blades in edge-to-edge relation on the cutter bar.

4. In a reciprocating cutter, the combination of alcutter bar having. aplurality of headed studs arranged therealong withthe heads of thelstuds spaced from the bar, and, a plurality of cutter blades providedwith keyhole -slotshaving reduced'portions disposed rearwardly andreceiving said studs.

Y 5. In a reciprocating cutter, -anelongatedcutvter -bar'havingaplurality r'afheadedfv studs Sfarranged therealong in spaced relationwith the heads of the studs spaced from the bar, a plurality of cutterblades, said blades being provided with enlarged holes to receive theheads of said studs and slots communicating with said holes in which theshanks of the studs are received in assembled position, and meansoperatively associated with said bar and blades to restrain displacementthereof.

6,'In a reciprocating cutter, the combination' of a cutter bar, acoupling head provided with A*an attaching plate disposed on said bar,attaching rivets'arranged through said bar and plate,

said plate being undercut on its under side to provide blade receivingrecesses, certain of said rivets being disposed to extend through saidrecesses, cutter blades slidable in said recesses and having forwardlyfacing notches in their edges engagingsaid rivets, and an adjustableretaining bar coacting with the rear edges of said blades and adjustabletransversely ofthe cutter bar.`

7. In a reciprocating cutter, the combination oi a cutter bar, acoupling head provided with anattaching plate disposed on said bar,attaching rivets arranged vthrough said bar and plate, said plate beingundercut on its under side to provide blade receiving recesses, certainofsaid rivets being disposed to extend through said recesses, cutterblades slidable in said recesses and having forwardly facing notchesintheir edges engaging 8,0

said rivets, and retaining means coacting with the rear edges of saidblades.

8. In a reciprocating cutter, the combination of a-cutterbar, a couplinghead provided with an attaching plate disposed onsaid bar, the adjacentend of the bar beingturned upwardly to form an abutment for said plate,attaching rivets arranged through said bar and plate, said plate beingundercut on its under side to provide blade receiving recesses, certainof said rivets being dis- :j

posed to extend through said recesses, cutter -blades slidable in saidrecesses and having .forwardly facing notches in their edges engagingsaid rivets, and retaining means coacting with the rear edges of saidblades.

9. In a reciprocating cutter, the combination of a cutter bar, acoupling head provided with an attaching plate disposed on. said bar,theend of the bar being turned upwardly to form an abutment for saidplate, attaching rivets arranged through said bar andrplate, said`,plate havingportions spaced from said bar to provide blade re- A'ceivingrecesses certa-in of said rivets being disposed to extendthrough said recesses., `cutter blade slidablein said recesses andhaving'fore wardly facing shoulders engaging said rivets, and anadjustable means coacting with the rear edges of said blades.

10. In a reciprocating cutter, a cutter bar, a

coupling head provided with an attaching .plate y joined tosaid bar byspaced rivets and a blade mounted `between said plate and bar,saidrplate and bar having a blade receiving recess therebetween, `saidblade having angled sharpened faces, and slots formed in said bladeadapted Vto engage said rivets, whereby saidY blade may be slid intooperative position and accurately registered between said plate and bar.

11. In combination, a cutter bar, a plurality of cutter blades carriedthereby, means for securing said blades to said bar, comprising aplurality of rivets extending through said bar with the heads thereofspaced from the bar, certain of said blades having holes therein adaptedto pass over `said heads and restricted portions to `engage ,'75

the shanks of the rivets, means for reciprocating said bar, comprising aplate having an actuating extension, said plate providing openingsbetween the plate and bar through which the other blades may beinserted, further rivets securing said bar and plate together andextending through said opening, said other blades having forwardlyopening slots adapted to engage said last named rivets, and means forrestraining all of said blades from displacement.

12. In combination, a cutter bar, a plurality of cutter blades carriedthereby, means for securing said blades to said bar, comprising aplurality of studs extending above said bar, certain of said bladeshaving holes therein adapted to engage the studs, means forreciprocating said bar, comprising a plate having an actuatingextension, said plate providing openings between the plate and barthrough which the other blades may be inserted, and means forrestraining all of said blades from displacement.

13. In a reciprocating cutter. a cutter bar,

means for reciprocating said bar, comprising a plate joined to said barby spaced rivets, and a plurality of blades mounted between said plateand bar, said plate being recessed to form receiving openings for saidblades between said plate and bar, said blades having angled sharpenedfaces and slots formed ln said faces adapted to .engage said rivets,whereby said blades may be slid into operative position and accuratelyregistered in said openings.

14. In a reciprocating cutter, a cutter bar, means for reciprocatingsaid bar, comprising a plate joined to said bar by spaced rivets, and ablade mounted between said plate and bar, said plate being recessed toform a receiving opening for said blade between said plate and bar, saidblade having slots formed therein adapted to engage said rivets, wherebysaid blade may be slid into operative position and accurately registeredin said opening.

DENNIS H. BENNETT.

